Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fiddle Leaf Fig is an ornamental in the Moraceae family. It grows best in part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-12.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Fiddle Leaf Fig
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tropical houseplant (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Trendy indoor tree with big violin-shaped leaves. Note: Toxic to pets, dislikes being moved.
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is a fashionable indoor tree with huge violin-shaped leaves; it wants bright light and steady conditions and sulks if moved or over/under-watered.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Ficus lyrata|Hardiness zones: 10-12|Propagation: cutting|Light: Bright indirect light|Water: Medium|Mature size: 6-10 feet indoors
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Start your free plan →Fiddle Leaf Fig care at a glance
Very bright light with a few hours of gentle direct sun — right in front of the window, not beside it. Once it's happy, don't move it; fiddles resent relocation.
Water thoroughly until it drains, then wait for the top inch or two to dry. Consistency is everything — fiddles punish erratic watering with brown spots and shed leaves.
Average room humidity is acceptable; 40%+ keeps leaf edges from crisping.
Keep above 55°F — cold damage starts below that.
A chunky, fast-draining indoor mix; compacted soil is the root of most fiddle problems.
Balanced fertilizer monthly through the growing season.
In winter: Stretch the interval in winter and keep it away from cold glass and heat vents alike.
The milky ficus sap contains irritating compounds — mouth irritation and vomiting in pets, skin irritation in sensitive people. Keep chewing pets away and wear gloves when pruning.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate fiddle leaf fig
Stem cuttings or air layering
- Take a tip cutting with 1–3 leaves just below a node (gloves — the white sap irritates).
- Stand it in water or moist mix in bright, indirect light.
- Roots form in 4–8 weeks; air layering on the trunk works for thicker wood.
- Pot up once roots reach a couple of inches.
Common fiddle leaf fig problems
Why does my fiddle leaf fig have brown spots?
Likely cause: Dark spots spreading from the leaf center or edges usually mean root rot from overwatering; crisp tan patches point to underwatering or sunburn instead.
Fix: Check the roots: mushy brown roots mean repotting into dry, fast-draining mix and watering less. For crisp patches, steady the watering cadence and acclimate to direct sun gradually.
Why is my fiddle leaf fig dropping leaves?
Likely cause: Stress from change — a move, a draft, a watering swing. Fiddles are the most change-averse common houseplant.
Fix: Give it the brightest stable spot you have, water on a consistent check-the-soil cadence, and leave it alone; recovery shows as new top growth in a few weeks.
What are the little red spots on my fiddle's new leaves?
Likely cause: Edema — cells burst as the young leaf expands faster than it can manage water. Very common and mostly cosmetic.
Fix: Even out the watering cycle; the spots fade as the leaf matures and new leaves emerge clean.
How do I make my fiddle leaf fig branch?
Likely cause: Fiddles grow a single stem by default; branching needs a prompt.
Fix: In spring, cut or pinch the top just above a node — or notch above a few nodes on the trunk — and give it strong light; expect 1–3 new branches at the cut.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for fiddle leaf fig yet. Our extension-service library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.